5 do-able steps to living more organically

I have been looking into ways to improve my blog & I realised I don’t really have a strong message about what I represent. I mean, it’s obvious that I love food & cooking & my family & home are my world, but I don’t go into a lot of detail about where & why I get my inspiration from.

Upon reflection, I think it is because I am not one to push my beliefs or opinions on others – I am an ‘each-to-their-own’ kinda gal. If someone asks me, I will tell them, but I don’t go out of my way to ‘preach’ my preferences. I am not sure if this is about not wanting to bore people, or perhaps it is to avoid conflict. Either way, I just don’t tend to go there.

Well, today I am changing that & I am going to go there! Let me begin my stating, I love organic produce & I think we should all being growing, stocking & eating it in as many ways as possible. It is healthier for you, often easy to grow & more than anything, it tastes so much better. Why would you not swap?

I can hear the outcry now … it’s too expensive, too hard to find, too time consuming, too inconvenient. To some extent this is true, but aren’t there similar arguments / excuses for any lifestyle choice? There are those who might say it is cheaper & easier to buy pre-packaged, heavily processed & chemically riddled food for the convenience & in the short term this might hold true, but down the track when your body starts to suffer the ill-effects of overdosing on the artificial, it may well cost you much more than it is worth. Just saying.

I firmly believe the above statement. The more we consume certain products, the more prevalent & affordable they become. When I first started switching to organic produce, some ten or so years ago now, it was a highly sacrificial way of living. In order to eat organically, I had to severely reduce other spending on things like take out, clothes & shoes. It was hard, (first world problems hard), but I managed because it worked for me. Since having children & going back to one income, the pressure to revert back to quick & dirty eating habits has been tempting, but I have to say, the prices of organic products has dropped significantly making it easier to sustain. I think this is because people are choosing products more mindfully & the demand for food free from additives & pesticides has grown, which as we all likely know, gradually increases production & competition, & ultimately reduces costs. As a consumer, I call this winning!

Now, let me hop off my soap box & get real for a second. I am not now, nor will I ever be the type to be hard-core fanatical about any issue, so no need to try & play the hypocrite card. I am a realist – a busy life, lack of disposable income & plain old temptation get in the way at times, so not everything I touch or consume is strictly organic &/or natural. However, as a family, we work to minimise foods that are non-organic, processed or artificial where ever possible. I am good with this approach & consider that conviction in itself can only be beneficial in the long term. A little peace of mind can go a long way towards contentment.

Anyway, enough of that opinion stuff, what I want to do In this post is share the main ways that we choose to live more organically.

1. Start small – swap it in

There are lots of lists out there that identify the worst & best produce to choose when switching to organic – just Google, “organics on a budget”,or the like, & prepare to be assaulted with options. In particular, you will find reference to the ‘Dirty Dozen’ – these are foods that are known to be heavily sprayed & laden with residual pesticide.

Look through the list, if there are foods on there you eat frequently, start by switching those to organic. Most are readily available in supermarkets, or organic green grocers. If not available, then stick to eating the ‘Clean Fifteen’, either organic or non-organic.

Organic or low pesticide produce is much safer & tastier.

2. Shop smarter – be creative & seasonal

Compare prices & keep an eye out for discounted produce. It may be a few days old, but perishable produce should be eaten quickly, so if you can use it straight away, grab it at the bargain price.

Check the freezer section of your local supermarket or wholefood store, often you will find a variety of organic snap-frozen products there. I am particularly fond of buying berries this way to have on hand year round.

Hit your local Farmers’ Markets for great organic produce at comparative non-organic prices. There is almost always a bargain to be struck – just be mindful of buying only what you need, as in, will eat fresh, or can cook &/or freeze to avoid waste. There is nothing more disheartening than having to throw away good food gone bad. I also find going to the market a fun family expedition! There is usually all sorts of stalls & activities for everyone to enjoy. Definitely more exciting than the supermarket!

Seasonal produce of any kind will always be cheaper. Don’t buy it if it is not in season, swap it for something that is & you will save big over the year. It is also a great way to introduce new produce & tastes to your table.

3. Sew the seeds – grow your own

Do you have a reasonable size yard or garden area? Plant an edible garden! Ditch the ornamentals & go green! Even if you don’t have a lot of space, something as simple as a planter box in a corner of your balcony can be filled with fresh herbs & leafy greens. Lettuce & spinach will grow pretty much all year round. A little potting mix, water & fertilizer & you are all set to be hand picking your produce with about 8 weeks of planting. You might have to share a few leaves with the bugs, but they really don’t eat much & there are loads of ‘natural pest repellents’ you can make to keep any loss to a minimum.

(Yes … that is my daughter with a flowerpot on her head!)

Kids love dirt, so make the garden a family affair. A great way to educate your little people about food & the environment is to get them involved in the gardening. They will love it & are so much more likely to eat vegetables if they have picked them themselves.

4. Share the load – buy in bulk

If you are buying organic seasonal produce & there is a lot of it around, you can buy in bulk & preserve your food. This can be as simple as bagging & freezing it, or if you are so inclined, making your own preserves.

(Goggles are totally a thing when avoiding onion tears apparently)

As well as fresh produce, you can switch your pantry staples to organic, same as above, swap it in gradually. The best way to keep your cost down is to buy in bulk. You may have a local co-op or wholefoods who sell this way, or there are some fantastic online businesses who provide great products & quick service. Get together with like-minded friends & order together, this can cut the cost per kilo & save on freight.

5. Stop making excuses – cut out the crap

There are increasingly less barriers to maintaining a healthy fridge and pantry. Organic products are available & affordable if you are prepared to make the changes. I think the visual below speaks volumes.

Comments

WOW that is very powerful. But I have to say the goggles sold me…
Seriously though, crappy food is SO much cheaper than good food. Thanks for these insights. I will take them on board… I have to admit that I only go for organic if they are cheaper than non-organic – (slaps self on wrist, face AND bum) xx

Great post!! I am quite happy to say that I did quite well on that dirty dozen, clean 15 list!! My biggest problem is the shopping smarter – I am a very lazy shopper (even worse if I have a kid with me). I really need to make more of an effort there. I’ll start by swapping chocolate for apples……not sure how well it will go down with the rest of family though :))

Love this! Especially the grow your own bit. Nothing quite like watching kids play in the dirt growing their own produce. My daughters pre-school started a vegie garden that’s amazing! She loves picking and bringing home random fresh herbs and vegies for me to include in dinner and it’s making her eat things she used to turn he nose up at. 🙂

Love this! Especially the grow your own bit. Nothing quite like watching kids play in the dirt growing their own produce. My daughter’s pre-school started a vegie garden that’s amazing! She loves picking and bringing home random fresh herbs and vegies for me to include in dinner and it’s making her eat things she used to turn he nose up at. 🙂

Wonderful post Jodie, thank you for sharing your great tips. I’ve written down the ‘dirty dozen’ list and have put it on the fridge as a reminder. We are really lucky a fortnightly farmers market has recently started running just 5 minutes from where we live. I try to buy organic products when possible, but will admit to also being a lazy shopper. Just today we planted some veggies and also some lettuce and other greens, there is something really special about growing (and then eating) food you have grown yourself. Your post has really given me a lot of food for thought – no pun intended 🙂

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Since being diagnosed with IBS coupled with symptomatic malabsorption of gluten and lactose, I have made it my mission to find ways to turn my old favourite recipes into new 'free from' ones I can digest and the whole family can cook, eat and enjoy!

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